Westbury headteacher to step down after 15 years

Headteacher Jan Ball will say an emotional farewell to pupils and staff at Westbury Infants’ School tomorrow after 15 years leading the school.

Now she is looking forward to spending time watching cricket in her retirement.

Mrs Ball, who lives in Corsley with her husband Dave, arrived at the school in 1999 on a three-month secondment as acting headteacher, but she was soon offered it permanently.

The retiring headteacher plans to spend more time with her family, including her two children and two grandchildren, and she has a holiday to Portugal booked for the end of the monthl.

Mrs Ball, who previously worked at Christ Church Primary in Bradford on Avon and Dilton Marsh Primary, said she was proud of the school and its resources for children with complex needs.

She said: “It’s been an interesting time and I have worked with some amazing people. We have also been really well supported by the governors and the community.

“The complex needs base, which serves the whole Westbury area, is one of my biggest accomplishments and it received an outstanding award from Ofsted for the progress children make.

“The children are central to everything we do here and all the staff work hard to make sure each one develops into the best person they can. It’s never boring, but after 38 years of teaching I felt the time was right to take a break.”

Mrs Ball, was awarded the Westbury Civic Award in 2013. She and her husband are members at Somerset Cricket Club and are going to New Zealand next year to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The new headteacher, Stacey Budge, is joining the school at the start of the summer term. She is from Ilfracombe in Devon.

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